NCT03584568

Reappraising Intergeneration Relationships in Dementia Caregiving

Reappraising Intergeneration Relationships in Dementia Caregiving Through Perspective Taking

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 154 (estimated)
• Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 20 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

It is hypothesized that reappraising intergeneration relationships through perspective-taking will enhance the well-being of adult-child caregivers. Incorporating both psychological and social perspectives, the study makes a unique contribution to address research gaps by evaluating an integrated model of intervention for dementia caregivers. The conceptual model involves the following components: 1) relational insights; 2) self-reflection to integrate the challenges and benefits in caregiving; 3) interpersonal empathy To test the incremental value of perspective-taking reappraisals, the study involves a two-arm randomized controlled trial of 12 weeks of intervention with two conditions: 1) Reappraisal through Perspective Taking and 2) Basic Skill Building. Telephone-administered sessions are integrated with group sessions and home visits to maximize sustainability and accessibility of the intervention. One hundred fifty-four participants will be recruited and randomized. Primary outcomes are reduced depressive symptoms and enhanced psychological well-being for the caregivers. Secondary outcomes include enhanced social support for caregivers and reduced behavioral problems in the care-recipients.

Detailed description

The proposed study aims to address a major research gap in caregiving interventions in the context of intergeneration perspective-taking reappraisals. Adult child caregivers are part of a sandwich generation, involved in actualizing their own goals and coping with social expectations to care for their elderly parents. Dementia caregiving presents a particular challenge in life transition wherein the adult child is parenting his or her parents. With global aging, people living with dementia are rising exponentially. This presents a challenge for sustainable care in Hong Kong and also in countries where public services are developing and the demand for family and intergeneration caregiving is high due to collectivistic concerns. It is hypothesized that reappraising intergeneration relationships through perspective-taking will enhance the well-being of adult-child caregivers. Incorporating both psychological and social perspectives, the study makes a unique contribution to address research gaps by evaluating an integrated model of intervention for dementia caregivers. The conceptual model involves the following components: 1) relational insights; 2) self-reflection to integrate the challenges and benefits in caregiving; 3) interpersonal empathy. Most caregiving psycho-education programs involve skill training including scheduling pleasant events, communicating with the care recipient and other family members. To test the incremental value of perspective-taking reappraisals, the study involves a two-arm randomized controlled trial of 12 weeks of intervention with two conditions: 1) Perspective Taking Reappraisal and 2) Basic Skill Building. Telephone-administered sessions are integrated with home visits to maximize sustainability and accessibility of the intervention. One hundred fifty-four participants will be recruited and randomized. Primary outcomes are reduced depressive symptoms and enhanced psychological well-being for the caregivers. Secondary outcomes include enhanced social support for caregivers and reduced behavioral problems in the care-recipients. Measures are obtained at baseline Weeks 1 (baseline), 6 and 12 with a follow-up at Week 24. Findings have implications for enhancing sustainable care for older adults in the wider society.

Conditions

• Alzheimer Dementia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Perspective Taking Reappraisal	Interventions involving 1) appreciating relational insights; 2) enhancing self-awareness; 3) empathetic understanding of care-recipient; 4) integrating self-care and caring for others and 5) negotiation.
OTHER	Basic Skill Building	These skill-building exercises are commonly used in psycho-education programs for caregivers:monitoring mood and activities, relaxation techniques and scheduling pleasant events, basic communication with the care recipient, communicating the caregivers' own needs with other family member or related persons including helpers and professional staff.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-11-11
• Primary completion: 2021-07-08
• Completion: 2021-07-08
• First posted: 2018-07-12
• Last updated: 2018-12-14

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Hong Kong